Michael Gabriel

London, ON -- It’s not easy being Michael Gabriel. He likens himself a pop singer-songwriter but he’s really much more interesting than that. Proof of how interesting Gabriel is will be seen on the stage of the Aeolian Hall as he kicks off his tour with Strings Attached, an evening he’s dubbed an ‘orchestral premier.’

A classically trained singer who taught himself drums and guitar, Gabriel criss-crossed this country for the past decade mostly with just his guitar in tow and now wants the music he plays to be heard the way he envisioned it.

“I’m playing primarily original stuff with a three-part string section, violin, viola, cello and piano and I play classical guitar and sing,” he explains. “It’s very much singer-songwriter but it has an orchestral feel to it.”

Gabriel knows that adding strings to a musical backdrop is nothing new and says that this concert will see the strings acting as more than a sawing orchestra.

“These strings really have a predominant role, they’re not just sitting in the back offering an ambient sound,” he insists. “They’re very harmonic and there’s a lot of movement going on.”

Gabriel hasn’t arrived at this unique vision without a lot of hard slogging as a musician. Born and raised in New Westminster, B.C. he studied in Vancouver as a classical singer when he picked up the guitar and made a crucial decision.

“I was learning Italian songs and just dabbling in opera and it was at that point when I thought ‘do I really want to get into opera or do I want to give pop music a shot?” he recalls. “That was really the fork in the road.”

He moved to Toronto and after gigging around ended up in an L.A.-based band for three years back when the dream of making it in music was much different than the realities of the music business today.

“When I was in L.A. all we talked about was getting a record deal,” he chuckles. “That seems like a hundred years ago - now no one talks about getting a record deal. Now anyone can record something and get it out there.”

After L.A. Gabriel moved back to Toronto and started work on the music that has led him to the orchestral work he’s currently bringing to fruition. He also did some serious roadwork playing far and wide with his unique finger-picking classical guitar style, his voice and little else. While travelling the country with his first solo disc he combined the tour with his personal passion for awareness about the plight of children in developing countries.

“I would do a presentation of facts about children in developing countries, play a montage and do an original song about developing countries,” he says, adding that other artists involved with the issue through the work of World Vision included Jann Arden and Jesse Book. “I still do it but it’s just that on that 2007 tour it was literally everywhere we went.”

For now, however, Gabriel’s focus is on this elaborate series of orchestra shows, a project that he admits has proven to be more daunting than he had initially conceived.

“Honestly, this project is bigger than I thought it would be but in a good way,” he says. “All I’m doing right now is focus on this Aeolian Hall concert, then I’ve got one at this great venue in Kitchener and then another in Hamilton. That will take me to the end of the summer.”

As for the Aeolian show, he can barely hold his excitement at the artistic challenge.

“I’m still blown away by how much depth can come from a three-part string section and a piano and a guitar,” he says excitedly. “It allows me to take the listener somewhere with that kind of arrangement.”

When prompted about where that might lead, Gabriel chuckles and adds, “Maybe down the road we’ll have a 24-piece orchestra. I don’t know…”
- SCENE MAGAZINE - STORY BY: BOB KLANAC

London, ON -- It’s not easy being Michael Gabriel. He likens himself a pop singer-songwriter but he’s really much more interesting than that. Proof of how interesting Gabriel is will be seen on the stage of the Aeolian Hall as he kicks off his tour with Strings Attached, an evening he’s dubbed an ‘orchestral premier.’

A classically trained singer who taught himself drums and guitar, Gabriel criss-crossed this country for the past decade mostly with just his guitar in tow and now wants the music he plays to be heard the way he envisioned it.

“I’m playing primarily original stuff with a three-part string section, violin, viola, cello and piano and I play classical guitar and sing,” he explains. “It’s very much singer-songwriter but it has an orchestral feel to it.”

Gabriel knows that adding strings to a musical backdrop is nothing new and says that this concert will see the strings acting as more than a sawing orchestra.

“These strings really have a predominant role, they’re not just sitting in the back offering an ambient sound,” he insists. “They’re very harmonic and there’s a lot of movement going on.”

Gabriel hasn’t arrived at this unique vision without a lot of hard slogging as a musician. Born and raised in New Westminster, B.C. he studied in Vancouver as a classical singer when he picked up the guitar and made a crucial decision.

“I was learning Italian songs and just dabbling in opera and it was at that point when I thought ‘do I really want to get into opera or do I want to give pop music a shot?” he recalls. “That was really the fork in the road.”

He moved to Toronto and after gigging around ended up in an L.A.-based band for three years back when the dream of making it in music was much different than the realities of the music business today.

“When I was in L.A. all we talked about was getting a record deal,” he chuckles. “That seems like a hundred years ago - now no one talks about getting a record deal. Now anyone can record something and get it out there.”

After L.A. Gabriel moved back to Toronto and started work on the music that has led him to the orchestral work he’s currently bringing to fruition. He also did some serious roadwork playing far and wide with his unique finger-picking classical guitar style, his voice and little else. While travelling the country with his first solo disc he combined the tour with his personal passion for awareness about the plight of children in developing countries.

“I would do a presentation of facts about children in developing countries, play a montage and do an original song about developing countries,” he says, adding that other artists involved with the issue through the work of World Vision included Jann Arden and Jesse Book. “I still do it but it’s just that on that 2007 tour it was literally everywhere we went.”

For now, however, Gabriel’s focus is on this elaborate series of orchestra shows, a project that he admits has proven to be more daunting than he had initially conceived.

“Honestly, this project is bigger than I thought it would be but in a good way,” he says. “All I’m doing right now is focus on this Aeolian Hall concert, then I’ve got one at this great venue in Kitchener and then another in Hamilton. That will take me to the end of the summer.”

As for the Aeolian show, he can barely hold his excitement at the artistic challenge.

“I’m still blown away by how much depth can come from a three-part string section and a piano and a guitar,” he says excitedly. “It allows me to take the listener somewhere with that kind of arrangement.”

When prompted about where that might lead, Gabriel chuckles and adds, “Maybe down the road we’ll have a 24-piece orchestra. I don’t know…”
- SCENE MAGAZINE - STORY BY: BOB KLANAC

For a man who I learned would actually sing arias alongside his vocal coach, Michael Gabriel is simply an incredibly talented songwriter and one helluva vocalist.

Gabriel has a way that relays the music directly to lighten your day – it’s real, genuine and relatable. He’s got a way of forcing the listener to believe that he really gets whatever it is that you’re going through.
- ECHO MAGAZINE - STORY BY: CARRIE HUMPHRIES

For a man who I learned would actually sing arias alongside his vocal coach, Michael Gabriel is simply an incredibly talented songwriter and one helluva vocalist.

Gabriel has a way that relays the music directly to lighten your day – it’s real, genuine and relatable. He’s got a way of forcing the listener to believe that he really gets whatever it is that you’re going through.
- ECHO MAGAZINE - STORY BY: CARRIE HUMPHRIES

Gabriel has a way that relays the music directly to lighten your day – it’s real, genuine and relatable. He’s got a way of forcing the listener to believe that he really gets whatever it is that you’re going through.
- ECHO MAGAZINE - STORY BY: CARRIE HUMPHRIES

Gabriel has a way that relays the music directly to lighten your day – it’s real, genuine and relatable. He’s got a way of forcing the listener to believe that he really gets whatever it is that you’re going through.
- ECHO MAGAZINE - STORY BY: CARRIE HUMPHRIES

The Vineyard Film Festival, Cyprus (non-profit) will run between March 25th & 28th, 2010 and is under the auspices of the First Lady of Cyprus Mrs. Elsie Christofia.

It is a star-studded, musical and cinematic experience, hosted on an island rich in cultural history and beautiful locations.

Come mingle with celebrities which include to date: American McGee (Video Games Icon: Alice, Doom Quake), Jason Connery (son of Sean and an actor director in his own right), Juliet Landau (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Mark Ryan (Charlie’s
Angels, Transformers), Michael Gabriel,…

There will also be a networking evening, a music jam with local and international musicians including Michael Gabriel,…

Our Charities for 2010 are the Red Cross Home for Sick Children, Cans for Kids and Make-a-Wish Foundation.
- VINEYARD FILM FESTIVAL - ANNA GEORGHALLIDES

The Vineyard Film Festival, Cyprus (non-profit) will run between March 25th & 28th, 2010 and is under the auspices of the First Lady of Cyprus Mrs. Elsie Christofia.

It is a star-studded, musical and cinematic experience, hosted on an island rich in cultural history and beautiful locations.

Come mingle with celebrities which include to date: American McGee (Video Games Icon: Alice, Doom Quake), Jason Connery (son of Sean and an actor director in his own right), Juliet Landau (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Mark Ryan (Charlie’s
Angels, Transformers), Michael Gabriel,…

There will also be a networking evening, a music jam with local and international musicians including Michael Gabriel,…

Our Charities for 2010 are the Red Cross Home for Sick Children, Cans for Kids and Make-a-Wish Foundation.
- VINEYARD FILM FESTIVAL - ANNA GEORGHALLIDES

La Casa, one of London's most romantic restaurants, will be serving up the music of singer-songwriter Michael Gabriel on Valentine's weekend.

Gabriel has been a regular at the King St. restaurant for about six months, playing guitar accompanied by cellist Trina Nadeau.

Gabriel trained as a classical singer in Vancouver and has been the lead singer in bands in both Canada and the U.S. and has toured extensively in Canada. Gabriel has released three EPs and two full-length albums of original material.
- THE LONDON FREE PRESS - HANK DANISZEWSKI

La Casa, one of London's most romantic restaurants, will be serving up the music of singer-songwriter Michael Gabriel on Valentine's weekend.

Gabriel has been a regular at the King St. restaurant for about six months, playing guitar accompanied by cellist Trina Nadeau.

Gabriel trained as a classical singer in Vancouver and has been the lead singer in bands in both Canada and the U.S. and has toured extensively in Canada. Gabriel has released three EPs and two full-length albums of original material.
- THE LONDON FREE PRESS - HANK DANISZEWSKI

With the opening ceremonies over, the Opening Act as
was introduced. Michael Gabriel took the stage accom-
panied by Cellist Trina Nadeau.

Michael is currently traveling southern Ontario in “a van
/camper named Gary”! Michael’s performance on the
Welland stage was wonderful. He sang many of his own
original compositions.

The accompaniment of cellist Trina greatly enhanced the
performance. As Michael entertained us, day slowly turned
to night.

- ONTARIO FESTIVALS VISITED: STORY BY: GARY MCCWILIAMS

With the opening ceremonies over, the Opening Act as
was introduced. Michael Gabriel took the stage accom-
panied by Cellist Trina Nadeau.

Michael is currently traveling southern Ontario in “a van
/camper named Gary”! Michael’s performance on the
Welland stage was wonderful. He sang many of his own
original compositions.

The accompaniment of cellist Trina greatly enhanced the
performance. As Michael entertained us, day slowly turned
to night.

- ONTARIO FESTIVALS VISITED: STORY BY: GARY MCCWILIAMS

Michael Gabriel recently settled in London, the latest stage in a career that has seen him move from B.C. to Toronto to L.A. and back to Canada geographically and from rock bands to singer-songwriter sounds musically.

At many gigs for the last year, Gabriel has been joined by cellist Trina Nadeau. Gabriel and Nadeau are at La Casa Ristorante, for their once-monthly gig, tonight from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tomorrow, at 8 p.m., they are at the London Music Club.

For the lfpress.com video, they play a new Gabriel song, Penelope Rose. It is set to become part of his next album. He expects to begin recording soon.

These days, he's selling the EP Southern California Sessions and the album In This Together at his shows.

This year, Gabriel has been winning airplay at more than a dozen stations for the single, Angel Wings, off Southern California Sessions.
- THE LONDON FREE PRESS - STORY BY: JAMES REANEY

Michael Gabriel recently settled in London, the latest stage in a career that has seen him move from B.C. to Toronto to L.A. and back to Canada geographically and from rock bands to singer-songwriter sounds musically.

At many gigs for the last year, Gabriel has been joined by cellist Trina Nadeau. Gabriel and Nadeau are at La Casa Ristorante, for their once-monthly gig, tonight from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tomorrow, at 8 p.m., they are at the London Music Club.

For the lfpress.com video, they play a new Gabriel song, Penelope Rose. It is set to become part of his next album. He expects to begin recording soon.

These days, he's selling the EP Southern California Sessions and the album In This Together at his shows.

This year, Gabriel has been winning airplay at more than a dozen stations for the single, Angel Wings, off Southern California Sessions.
- THE LONDON FREE PRESS - STORY BY: JAMES REANEY